Khan Bahadur (Urdu language: خان بہادُر
, Hindi language: खान) - a compound of khan (leader) and Bahadur (Brave) - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred exclusively on Muslim and other non-Hindu subjects of the British Indian Empire. It was a title one degree higher than the title of Khan Sahib.
The title was conferred along with a medal and a citation (or sanad) and the recipient was entitled to prefix the title to his name. The title was conferred on behalf of the British Indian Government by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.[citation needed]
The title "Khan Bahadur" was originally conferred by the Mughal Empire on Muslim subjects in recognition of public services rendered and was adopted by the British Indian Empire for the same purpose and extended to cover other non-Hindu subjects of the Indian Empire. Hindu subjects of the British Indian Empire were conferred the title of "Rai Bahadur".
Recipients[]
The chronological list of recipients below is not exhaustive
31 December 1895 Sardar Mir Muhammad Hassan Gichki of Sami. (Makran Balochistan)
1899, Khan Bahadur Ghulam Haider Khan (Chief of Sherwani Tribe).
4 April 1903, Khan Bahadur Cayan Uddin Ahmet (Chief Secretary of Bengal Presidency).
14 June 1912, Khan Bahadur Sayed Rustom Ali (Registrar, Court of the Political Resident, Aden).
1912, Khan Bahadur, Nadir Husain, District Superintendent of Police, Bengal. The title of Khan Bahadur was conferred on him in recognition of his services in the Police Department in June, 1912.[1]
1914, Khan Bahadur Muhammad Hira Khan, (Civil Engineer from University of Roorkee(Gold Medalist); Supervisor, Public Works Department, Lucknow, United Provinces. Title conferred in January, 1914.
1922, Sardar Nawab Khan Luni Sardar of Luni Tribe, For meritorious services in Balochistan .(Luni,Balochistan)
January, 1923 Khan Bahadur Mian Muhammad Said. IGP Kapurthala, SP Gurgaon, Gujrat and Gujranwala
January,1925 Khan Sahib Sayad Nazir Husain,M.B.E., Civil Surgeon,Punjab.
1925, Muhammad Salim 'Ali Adviser on Arab affairs in Aden.
2 January 1925 (Ali Ibrahim Lokman ) from Aden Colony, awarded the title 'Bahadur Khan' Advisor on Arab Affairs Translation and Administration Services * HAJI ABDULLAH HAJI KASIM SAHEB BAHADUR
1925, Khan Bahadur Aga Syed Hussain, then Governor of Kashmir,later the First Muslim Minister to Maharaja Hari Singh in the Dogra Rule,awarded for his meritorious services.
1928, Alhaj Ghulam Muhammad Khan son of Khan Naurang Khan, an elder of Spin Gund faction of Lakki Marwat was awarded this title for streamlining cordial relationship between the British and hostile Spin Gund tribe of Lakki Marwat. The Deputy Commissioner/Collector of District Bannu/Edwardabad at that time Major A.E.D. Parton had to send his medal and Sanad through a messenger as he declined to attend the public awarding ceremony at Deputy Commissioner's Office in Bannu.
1928, Khan Bahadur Shah Hayat Ahmad, Sajjadah Nasheen Dargah Rudauli Sharif, Khanqah Shaikh Ahmad Abdul Haq, on 4 February 1928.
1929 Khan Bahadur P. Kalifulla Sahib Dewan of Pudukkottai State ,co- founder of justice party
1929, Khan Bahadur Maj.Gen. Fateh Naseeb Khan (Commander-in-chief of Alwar State Forces), was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur on 17 January 1929 [3]
1930, Khan Bahadur, Syed Niaz Qutb (also spelled as Qutab), Post Master General, Indian Civil Service, Government of India under the British Crown, titled conferred as a recognition of his personal distinction in administrative services and professional contribution to the institution of post office in British administered India [4][5][6][7]
1931, Khan Bahadur, Khan Sahib Chaudhri Khair-Ud-Din. Borstal Institution, Lahore Punjab.For services to the Crown and construction of Montgomery(Sahiwal)canal in Punjab.
Khan Bahadur Chaudhry Irshadullah Ranjha
1933, Khan Bahadur Chaudhry Irshadullah Ranjha, Kot Sher Muhammad, Chief of Kirana Bar, MLA Member Punjab Legislative Assembly, former Zaildar Gujarat undivided Punjab. when the title of Khan Bahadur was confer upon him as a personal distinction by then Viceroy Lord Willington.
1934, Khan Bahadur Saiyid Abdul Hasan, District Settlement Officer and later President of the Court of Wards in the United Provinces. He belonged to a taluqdari (madad-i ma'ash) family of Faizabad in the United Provinces.
1936, Khan Bahadur Muhammad Sher Khan, Marghuz Village, Mardan Tehsil.
1943, Rao Qurban Ali khan, Hen Bane Nursery, (established in 1912 ) saharanpur
1944, Khan Bahadur Munshi Abdul Karim Khan, Deputy Superintendent of police, city Bareilly.
1945, Maulvi Mahammad Roufique, Chairman, Nowgaon local board.
1948, Lt Colonel Khan Bahadur Muhammad Hassan Khan(Late), 1st Muslim Army Officer who was appointed by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as 1st Director General Survey of Pakistan belongs to village Domeli (now RasulPur Jali) near Jhelum. He served in the British Royal Army as well as in Pakistan Army in the Magnificent 4th Bn of Engineer Regiment, One of the most courageous and generous officers who fought in World War I & II. Because of him Pakistan occupied 3871 Square Km more during partition through the Red Cliff award. He passed away on 21 Dec 1948. Father of Lieutenant Colonel Qurban Hassan Khan(Late) 18 PMA Long Course, Chief Instructor ISI, later Advisor to the Prime Minister UAE. His Grand son Lt Colonel Faisal Hassan Khan is third generation officer serving in the Army.
1940, Khan Bahadur,Khan Sahib Yar Muhammed Khan Barrech,son of Wali Muhammed Barrech was an afghan orphan who migrated from shorawak (a small village of Afghanistan) during the second Afghan war. he knew nothing but Pashto when he came to Quetta but within the years that passed he traveled the whole world, gained enormous wealth (possibly the might have been the richest merchant in Quetta of his time) and also did he become a polyglot (a person who can speak 5 languages including English). The Viceroy of India sir Archibald Wavell who considered him his friend even after his term wrote him letters and even gave him the Title of khan sahib, later on after the 1935 earthquake that struck Quetta did he earn the title of khan Bahadur due to his enormous help. a street in Quetta is named after him. He died on 14 August 1968.
Alhaj Khan Bahadur Syed Mohammad Abbas Zaidi,IAS from Jalali, Aligarh was awarded for his meritorious services during pre partition days.
Khan Bahadur Syed Mohammad Zaki Rizvi of Sitapur who was Inspector of schools was awarded for his meritorious services.
Sardar Syed Mehr Shah Gharshin was also awarded with the title
See also[]
Dewan Bahadur
Rai Bahadur
Rai Sahib
References[]
↑Second Supplement to Who's Who in India. Lucknow Newul Kishore Press. 1914
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